On the day of the birthday banquet.
Tianhai City, Mu Family Villa, the residence of the Biao Nu and Yun Muchen.
“What gifts have you prepared for the Old Patriarch’s birthday banquet?” a woman dressed as a noble lady probed the Biao Nu. “I specially flew overseas to auction off a beautiful jade piece.”
The Biao Nu gave a polite but insincere smile, yet Yun Muchen, who knew her well, could see the panic lurking behind her eyes.
At this moment, both Yun Muchen and the Biao Nu looked haggard, especially as the banquet drew nearer, their exhaustion becoming increasingly evident.
The mental torment endured at night could only be concealed by heavy makeup.
“I… have prepared something decent as well,” the Biao Nu answered absentmindedly. “You go ahead first; I’ll wait a bit longer.”
After seeing the guest off, the Biao Nu hurried into the inner chamber.
“Master, are you sure these talismans will work?”
Inside the villa’s inner room sat an elderly man with a Daoist’s ethereal bearing. He was tracing talisman symbols on yellow paper using chicken blood.
The old man said nothing, maintaining a serious demeanor. The little Daoist boy beside him raised his eyebrows:
“Are you doubting the Master’s expertise? When Master steps in, everything is foolproof.”
“No… it’s just that, that guy is too sinister,” the Biao Nu knelt before the old man in terror. “If you can help my mother and me remove this curse, you will be our lifesaver! Whatever you ask, I’ll agree to it!”
Seeing the Biao Nu kneel, the old man finally raised his eyes and set down his brush.
“No need for such formalities, pilgrim,” he said, stroking his long beard. “Exorcising demons and protecting the Dao is our duty. Helping you is merely to accumulate a little merit and karma, not for worldly gain.”
“I understand you’re not a person of the mundane world, Master, but if you help my mother and me so greatly, we’d feel uneasy if we didn’t make some gesture of gratitude.” The Biao Nu kowtowed repeatedly. “You travel and give aid all around; you still need food and clothing. These worldly necessities can’t be lacking… please name your price.”
The old man frowned, looking resigned. “Sigh, well, since you insist so earnestly… then let’s say… ten billion.”
The Biao Nu almost hit her head on the floor.
The Master really wasn’t greedy at all!
But if these talismans work, ten billion would be worth it!
“I’ll arrange the funds immediately. Forget ten billion—if the Master can help my mother and me dispel the Nightmare and remove the killing curse targeting the Mu Family… even twenty-one! My whole family will grit their teeth and raise it!”
The Biao Nu understood clearly that as long as Yun Muchen could keep his position as the Mu Family’s son-in-law, ten billion or twenty billion was nothing for the Mu Family.
“Alright, go ahead,” the old man waved his hand. “These are the Shenshao Sect’s exorcism talismans; no evil technique can come near you. As for those tricks that disturb the mind, they are utterly powerless against this.”
The Biao Nu beamed. “Thank you so much, Master!”
At this point, she could only place her full trust in this Shenshao Master.
This Master was the most famous expert in the field; if he couldn’t solve it, no one could.
“Stick these talismans well; rest assured.” The old man said arrogantly, “If any petty demon dares to make a move, I’ll give them a little shock worthy of a cultivator.”
“The Master truly is a cultivator! When the time comes, be sure to give that half-hearted pest a thorough lesson!”
“Piece of cake.”
Reassured by the endorsement of this “Master Li Shenshao,” the Biao Nu and Yun Muchen finally relaxed.
“Let’s go. We should take the gifts and set off.”
……
“There isn’t a bell that big!” The shop owner at the religious goods store helplessly shrugged at us. “The kind of large bell you’re asking for is only used in ancient temples and has to be custom-ordered in advance. There’s no way the store would have one for sale!”
Ah…
Our plan to gift a bell with Cluru was completely disrupted.
Since we couldn’t buy a bell, the only options were to steal one from a temple or forge one ourselves.
But if we forged one, giving the other party a treasure refined with thunder and fire would feel like a huge loss…
What to do? We can’t exactly gift them a coffin with a surprise inside, right?
“Actually, it seems like we’ve already prepared our gift,” Cluru said, tilting her head. “My grandfather places great importance on birthday banquet etiquette. He likes lively celebrations and flattery. If Yun Muchen and that Biao Nu don’t go, Grandpa will definitely throw a fit.”
“That’s true… in that case, our gift will come all by itself.”
“Exactly, so we’ll just go and enjoy the show.”
“You don’t feel bad causing your grandfather trouble like this?” I asked curiously.
“Grandpa?” Cluru pouted. “If he really cared about family, he wouldn’t have let those bastards kick me out of the house back then. He doesn’t care about kinship, so why should I?”
“Well, that puts me at ease.”
Looks like we’re completely on the same side; nothing will affect our cooperation.
“Let’s go. Time to set off, or we’ll miss the good show.”
Tianhai City was a huge metropolis—at least ten times the size of Kangcheng in area, and its GDP was equivalent to forty-five Kangchengs.
That was why many important figures of the Mu Family were in Tianhai City.
Among them was the Mu Family’s Old Patriarch.
The birthday banquet was held at another Mu Family seaside villa, with the feast set in a garden—an upscale outdoor cocktail party.
“Passerby A presents a piece of Hetian jade…”
At the entrance, attendants announced each gift loudly upon receiving it.
This way, those without gifts would feel awkward entering.
“Yun Muchen presents a vial of Changshou Potion, and respectfully wishes the Old Patriarch longevity as boundless as the Kunpeng, and continuous ascension to the heavens!”
Mother and son, heads held high, stepped into the Mu Family villa’s banquet grounds.
“Good, my Mu Family’s fine son-in-law.” The old man grinned ear to ear.
For the elderly patriarch, whose lifespan was nearly exhausted, what could be more precious than a potion that extended life?
The Changshou Potion was a new medicine developed by the Mu Family, making its debut in front of the crowd.
It was flashy, prestigious, and great for publicity.
“Changshou Potion… the Mu Family really developed it?” “Amazing, definitely the right call to ally with the Mu Family.” “With this potion, the Mu Family Pharmacy will keep raking in profits for decades.”
Yun Muchen suppressed his smile and approached the Old Patriarch.
He pressed the talisman paper against his chest, the weight in his heart finally lifting.
The Master truly lived up to his name! The talisman was effective! Dealing with Yunxian, that half-baked evil cultivator, would be a breeze.
Just as the banquet’s atmosphere was warming up thanks to Yun Muchen’s “Changshou Potion,” preparing to reach its climax, the receptionist at the door read out another gift list.
“Mu Qingyou, accompanied by her husband Yunxian, presents a vial of ‘Jianshou Potion,’ and respectfully wishes the Old Patriarch longevity like… the Kunpeng? Or perhaps to descend… to hell?”
The receptionist glanced nervously at the note in his hand, voice trailing off uncertainly.
A closer look at the “Jianshou Potion” revealed faint remnants of the words “Bai Caoku” crudely scratched out.
Silence fell over the world.
Cluru and I smiled as we walked into the venue.
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